**5.1. Curtis P. Schuh (1959-2007)**

20 Recent Advances in Crystallography

symmetry of the growing crystal. The resulting form of the crystal can preserve only those symmetry elements that coincide with the symmetry elements of the growth medium. Of course, the internal symmetry, the crystal structure, does not change. The observed crystal morphology is a compromise resulting from the superimposition of two symmetries: internal symmetry of the crystal and the external symmetry of the medium. Thus, distorted

Curie's thoughts on symmetry have been only recently duly appreciated. Vernadsky was an advocate in his declining years. He wrote posthumously, "More than 40 year ago, in unfinished works interrupted first by the distraction of radium and then by death, Pierre Curie for the first time showed that the symmetry principle underlies all physical phenomena. Symmetry is as basic to physical phenomena as is the dimensionality of geometrical space because symmetry defines the physical state of the space – *état de l'éspace*. I have to stop here and emphasize the often forgotten importance of the force of personality. The premature depth of Curie at the peak of his powers stopped progress in this field for decades. Curie understood the significance of symmetry in physical phenomena before the causal relationship between symmetry and physical phenomena was not realized. He found

Vernadsky writes: "The physically faithful definition [of symmetry], that we encounter throughout this book, was given by Curie…This is representation of a symmetry as a state of the earth, i.e. geological, natural space, or, more accurately as states of the space of natural bodies and phenomena of our planet Earth. Considering the symmetry as a state of the earth space it is necessary to emphasize the fact was expressed by Curie and recently stressed by A.V. Shubnikov, that the symmetry manifests itself not only in a structure but also in

Vernadsky knew Curie, whom he describes as "charming but lonely" (Vernadsky, 1965).

science than his works on radioactivity for development of chemistry and physics."

Detailed and very clear analyses of crystallographic ideas by Curie is presented in Shubnikov's paper "On the works of Pierre Curie in the field of symmetry" (Shubnikov, 1988): "P. Curie is known to broad audience of scientists as an author of influential works in the field of radioactivity. But he is almost unknown as the author of profound studies in the field of symmetry and its applications to physics. However, these studies, if they were continued by P. Curie, could have hardly less significance for development of natural

Shubnikov noted that Curie's papers were "extremely concise", a style that did not lend itself to the general the acceptance of ideas that were before their time. He forecast that future generations would need to finalize Curie's ideas" (Shubnikov, 1988). At the same time, Shubnikov, with Koptsik argued that the Curie principle is part of a tradition, in that it is a generalization of the principles of his predecessors, Neumann and Minnegerode. This is true only in part. In fact, there is a vast difference between the scope of Curie's vision that expanded the significance of symmetry to all natural phenomena and the observations of Neumann and Minnegerode that were restricted to crystals. While, Curie is today rightly

crystal shapes, frequent in nature, are indicators of growth medium dissymmetry.

the significance of this relationship previously overlooked" (Vernadsky, 1975).

motions of natural bodies and phenomena" (Vernadsky, 1957).

As we were working on the Shafranovskii translation, we became aware of three unfinished and unpublished documents on the website archives.org by Curtis P. Schuh (Figure 5): *Mineralogy & Crystallography: An Annotated Biobibliography of Books Published 1469 Through 1919, Volumes I & II* (Schuh, 2007a,b), as well as *Mineralogy & Crystallography: On the History of These Sciences From Beginnings Through 1919* (Schuh, 2007c). The *Biobibliography* has been incorporated into the Biographical Archive of the Mineralogical Record (2012). Schuh was an independent scholar working in Tucson, Arizona. He describes his 561 history based on the most complete bibliography of sources ever assembled (1562 pages) as a "derivative" study that no "true" historian would write. This is false. Though incomplete, it will have a lasting impact on future research in the history of crystallography for generations to come.

Curtis Schuh died prematurely in 2007. A sketch of his life was recorded in *The Mineralogical Record* by its editor and Schuh's friend, Wendell E. Wislon (2007, 2012). The following facts of Schuh's life were taken from Wilson's obituary, and also from an entry on the website Find a Grave by Bill Carr (2008).

Curtis Paul Schuh was born in Boulder, Colorado in 1959 and raised in the Denver area. After he graduated from high school, his father, a newly retired IRS agent, moved the family to Tucson. Schuh studied engineering and mathematics at the University of Arizona, earning three Bachelor of Science degrees. Subsequently, he worked in the field of computer support for a number of organizations in the Tucson area.

In both Colorado and Arizona, Schuh was fortunate to have found concerned and dedicated mentors in the mineralogy community who shared their love of minerals and books about minerals. The library of rare crystallography volumes belonging to Richard Bideaux, the owner of a local mineralogy shop in Tucson, inspired the preparation of a comprehensive bibliography of mineralogy and crystallography. The *Biobibliography* is dedicated to Bideaux who encouraged this decades-long undertaking. Schuh did not anticipate at the outset that he was embarking upon a lifelong project.

Schuh lived a quiet, solitary life of scholarship. Ill at age 48, Curtis Schuh ended his life in the Arizona desert. His abandoned car was found. He left a note claiming that "my body will never be found." It has not been.

We are grateful that before his death Schuh left behind electronic copies of his masterworks, freely available to anyone wishing to benefit from his labors (Schuh, 2007a,b,c).

There is no better way to appreciate the detail of Schuh than to download his documents (617 megabytes) and explore for one's self. Short of direct inspection, what can we say here?

**Figure 5.** Curtis P. Schuh (2005). Photograph courtesy of Wendell E. Wilson (2012).

#### **5.2. Biobibliography**

The *Biobibliography* has too many entries to count accurately. Figure 8 shows the first and last scientists illustrated, **A**bildgaard and **Z**ittel. If an image of a significant survives, chances are very good that it can be found here.

Schuh's *Biobibliography* and *History* enable translation of Shafranovskii more than any other resource. For instance, Shafranovskii relies heavily the history of crystallography by C. M. Marx. What was this book? What can we learn about it short of locating a copy and reading it? Here is what Schuh says about this volume, the 3255rd entry of some 5170 likewise described:

3255. German, 1825. Geschichte Der Crystallkunde von Dr. C.M. Marx, Professor der Physik und Chemie in Braunschweig. [rule] Mit neun schwarzen Kupfertafeln und einer colorirten. [rule] Carlsruhe und Baden. D.R. Marx'sche Buchhandlung. [rule] 1825. Gedruckt bei Friedrich Bieweg und Sohn in Braunschweig. 8◦: p7 1-198 206; 165?.; [i]-xiv, [2], [1]-313, [3] p., 10 plates (one folding and colored). Page size: 185 x 115 mm.

Contents: [i-ii], Title page, verso blank.; [iii], Dedication to Count von Schmidt– Phiseldeck.; [iv], Blank.; [v-xii], Preface—signed Carl Michael Marx, 16 May 1825.; [xiii]- xiv, "Uebersicht des Inhalts."; 1, "Geschichte der Crystallkunde."; [2], Quotation from Goethe concerning colors.; [3]-297, Text.; [298]-301, "Rückblick."; [302]- 309, "Zusätze."; [310]-313, "Namen–Verzeichniß."; [1 pg], "Berichtigungen."; [1 pg], "Abbildungen."; [1 pg], Blank.; [At end], 10 plates (one folding and hand-colored).

22 Recent Advances in Crystallography

**5.2. Biobibliography** 

described:

115 mm.

are very good that it can be found here.

**Figure 5.** Curtis P. Schuh (2005). Photograph courtesy of Wendell E. Wilson (2012).

The *Biobibliography* has too many entries to count accurately. Figure 8 shows the first and last scientists illustrated, **A**bildgaard and **Z**ittel. If an image of a significant survives, chances

Schuh's *Biobibliography* and *History* enable translation of Shafranovskii more than any other resource. For instance, Shafranovskii relies heavily the history of crystallography by C. M. Marx. What was this book? What can we learn about it short of locating a copy and reading it? Here is what Schuh says about this volume, the 3255rd entry of some 5170 likewise

3255. German, 1825. Geschichte Der Crystallkunde von Dr. C.M. Marx, Professor der Physik und Chemie in Braunschweig. [rule] Mit neun schwarzen Kupfertafeln und einer colorirten. [rule] Carlsruhe und Baden. D.R. Marx'sche Buchhandlung. [rule] 1825. Gedruckt bei Friedrich Bieweg und Sohn in Braunschweig. 8◦: p7 1-198 206; 165?.; [i]-xiv, [2], [1]-313, [3] p., 10 plates (one folding and colored). Page size: 185 x

Contents: [i-ii], Title page, verso blank.; [iii], Dedication to Count von Schmidt– Phiseldeck.; [iv], Blank.; [v-xii], Preface—signed Carl Michael Marx, 16 May 1825.; [xiii]-

**Figure 6.** *Biobibliography* from **A**bildgaard to **Z**ittel. Left: Peder Christian Abildgaard (1740-1801) founded the Veterinary School of Copenhagen but earns his place in Schuh for describing Cryolite from Greenland. Right: Karl Alfred von Zittel (1839-1904) served on the Geological Survey of Austria and rose to the Presidency of the Royal Bavarian Academy of Sciences.

Very rare. A highly respected work that develops an understanding of concepts in what was then modern crystallography through historical perspective. As a result, the book covers the history of crystallography from ancient times to 1824. The development is told by describing the contributions of the individuals in chronological order. The text is divided into six sections, each representing a specific time period. The first covers the ancient Greek and Roman researches. The others span (2) Albertus Magnus to Robert Boyle, (3) Nicolaus Steno to Johann Henckel, (4) Carl Linneaus to Jean Baptiste Louis Romé de l'Isle, (5) René Just Haüy to Henry James Brooke, and (6) Abraham Gotthelf Kästner to Friedrich Mohs. The name index lists about 300 researches [sic], whose contributions are described in the text. The plates illustrate various concepts brought forth in the discussion by reproducing recognizable figures from important crystallographic works.

#### 24 Recent Advances in Crystallography

Facsimile reprint, 1970: Geschichte...Wiesbaden Dr. Martin Sändig oHG. 8◦: [i]-xiv, [2], [1]-313, [2], [1] blank p., 10 plates (one folding and colored). Photographic reprint of the original edition with a modified title page. ISBN 3500220002. References: BL: [726.c.34.].

Of direct relevance are the passages from Shafranovskii that Schuh has already translated. On Lomonsov's doctoral dissertation Shafranovskii worte, "His conceptions of the structure of crystals formulated in this dissertation are so significant that the year this dissertation was written might well be considered the origin of Russian scientific crystallography" (Grigorev & Shafranovskii, 1949). Regarding the doctoral dissertation of Vernadsky on crystallographic gliding, Shafronovkii says: "Here we find the richest synthesis of data relating to unique deformations of crystals, created as a result of gliding, that is the shifting of separate parts of a crystal along straight lines while preserving the volume, weight, and homogeneity of matter. Vernadsky revealed the connection between the planes of gliding, the crystalline facets and elements of symmetry. Here for the first time, he underlined the need to make several qualifications in our conceptions about the complete homogeneity of crystalline polyhedra in connection with changes in their physical features in their surface state. According to this idea, crystals are viewed not as abstract geometrical systems, but as real physical bodies (Shafranovskii, 1980)."

Perhaps you have wondered how many volumes comprised the *Materialy dlia Mineralogii Rossii* (1852) of Koksharov, another Shafranovskii favorite? Here is the answer which corrects a Shafranovskii pecadillo:

6 vols. plus atlas. [vol 1: 1852] 8◦: [6], I-III, [1] blank, [1]-412, [4] p., illus. [vol 2: 1855] 8◦: [4], [1]- 339, [1] blank, [4] p., illus. (Page numbers of the first signiature are reversed). [vol 3: 1858] 8◦: [6], [1]-426, [4] p., illus. [vol 4: 1862] 8◦: [4], 515, [5] p. [vol 5: 1866] 8◦: [2], 373, [3] p., plates LXXV-LXXVII. [Atlas] 4◦: 1-4 p., 74 plates (numbered I-LXXIV).

The bibliography of this Russian edition is difficult because of the rarity of the work. Contrary to what Sinkankas (1993) states this Russian edition did not exceed volume five as a separate publication, and contrary to what Grigoriev & Shafranovskii (1949) state volume six did not appear as a separate volume. Instead it made an appearance as an article in the *Gornoi Zhurnal*. In addition the plates are numbered I- LXXVII. In the copy examined, plates LXXV-LXXVII were bound in at the end of volume five and not included in the Atlas proper. Page size: 225 x 148 mm.

Schuh displays such an obsessive commitment getting the facts right that it is hard not to cheer him on in his solitary and unrewarded work.

Care to evaluate early editions of Giorgio Agricola's *De Re Metallica,* one of the most influential works of metallurgy? Now you can (Figure 7). And, is there a Polish edition, should you prefer it? Yes there is.

**Figure 7.** *De Re Metallica* by Giorgio Agricola. From upper left to lower right: Latin, 1530; Italian, 1550; German, 1557; German, 1580; Italian, 1563; Latin, 1657. See Schuh for many others editions and citations.

### **5.3. History**

24 Recent Advances in Crystallography

bodies (Shafranovskii, 1980)."

corrects a Shafranovskii pecadillo:

proper. Page size: 225 x 148 mm.

should you prefer it? Yes there is.

cheer him on in his solitary and unrewarded work.

LXXIV).

[726.c.34.].

Facsimile reprint, 1970: Geschichte...Wiesbaden Dr. Martin Sändig oHG. 8◦: [i]-xiv, [2], [1]-313, [2], [1] blank p., 10 plates (one folding and colored). Photographic reprint of the original edition with a modified title page. ISBN 3500220002. References: BL:

Of direct relevance are the passages from Shafranovskii that Schuh has already translated. On Lomonsov's doctoral dissertation Shafranovskii worte, "His conceptions of the structure of crystals formulated in this dissertation are so significant that the year this dissertation was written might well be considered the origin of Russian scientific crystallography" (Grigorev & Shafranovskii, 1949). Regarding the doctoral dissertation of Vernadsky on crystallographic gliding, Shafronovkii says: "Here we find the richest synthesis of data relating to unique deformations of crystals, created as a result of gliding, that is the shifting of separate parts of a crystal along straight lines while preserving the volume, weight, and homogeneity of matter. Vernadsky revealed the connection between the planes of gliding, the crystalline facets and elements of symmetry. Here for the first time, he underlined the need to make several qualifications in our conceptions about the complete homogeneity of crystalline polyhedra in connection with changes in their physical features in their surface state. According to this idea, crystals are viewed not as abstract geometrical systems, but as real physical

Perhaps you have wondered how many volumes comprised the *Materialy dlia Mineralogii Rossii* (1852) of Koksharov, another Shafranovskii favorite? Here is the answer which

The bibliography of this Russian edition is difficult because of the rarity of the work. Contrary to what Sinkankas (1993) states this Russian edition did not exceed volume five as a separate publication, and contrary to what Grigoriev & Shafranovskii (1949) state volume six did not appear as a separate volume. Instead it made an appearance as an article in the *Gornoi Zhurnal*. In addition the plates are numbered I- LXXVII. In the copy examined, plates LXXV-LXXVII were bound in at the end of volume five and not included in the Atlas

Schuh displays such an obsessive commitment getting the facts right that it is hard not to

Care to evaluate early editions of Giorgio Agricola's *De Re Metallica,* one of the most influential works of metallurgy? Now you can (Figure 7). And, is there a Polish edition,

6 vols. plus atlas. [vol 1: 1852] 8◦: [6], I-III, [1] blank, [1]-412, [4] p., illus. [vol 2: 1855] 8◦: [4], [1]- 339, [1] blank, [4] p., illus. (Page numbers of the first signiature are reversed). [vol 3: 1858] 8◦: [6], [1]-426, [4] p., illus. [vol 4: 1862] 8◦: [4], 515, [5] p. [vol 5: 1866] 8◦: [2], 373, [3] p., plates LXXV-LXXVII. [Atlas] 4◦: 1-4 p., 74 plates (numbered I-

> The *History* is labeled "(Rough Notes)". We would be grateful for the ability to produce "rough notes" mostly complete and so remarkably refined. Nevertheless, the *History* is incomplete. This is manifest as sections marked for insertion, sections taken verbatim from other sources, but always set-off with "**REWORK**" as a warning, and sections that were delivered directly from machine translators without refinement (In fact, Schuh was engaged in writing machine translating software, presumably to assist him in this work (Wilson, 2004, 2012)).

> Schuh's *History* begins in pre-history, 25,000 years ago when humans first learned to distinguish quartz-rich flint rock from softer stones. He then discusses the ancients. Treatment of Islamic scholars is especially comprehensive. While Shafranovskii writes of the importance of al-Biruni's gemology, we learn from Schuh that this Persian Shiite scholar

#### 26 Recent Advances in Crystallography

loathed Arabs, mined the emerald riches of the now lost Mount Muqattam, and made remarkably accurate measurements of specific gravity in the 11th century. He reviews the contributions and biographies of some three-dozen other Muslim mineralogists, emphasizing the curative properties of minerals purported in medieval texts as well as the use of minerals as poisons.

Chapter 5 covers physical crystallography. We read carefully the passages associated with Malus, Arago, Brewster, and Biot, pioneers in crystal optics whose work we have previously studied in detail (Kahr & McBride, 1991; Kahr & Claborn, 2008; Shtukenberg & Punin, 2007, Kahr & Arteaga, 2012). From these circumscribed aspects of the history of crystallography that we know best, we can declare that Schuh's understanding is accurate and deep, his comments nuanced and sophisticated. If we multiply this judgment by the thousands of episodes in the history of crystallography that he knows better than we do, it is hard to imagine how half a lifetime was enough for Schuh.

Certain subjects receive short shrift. For instance, section **8.5 Liquid Crystals**, says precisely this and no more. "Liquid crystals were discovered and studied in the 19th century and were studied primarily by Lehmann, Schenk and Vorlander. By 1908 a theoretical framework for liquid crystals was established and other theoretical studies by E. Bose, Max Born, F. Rhimpf, O. Lehmann, and G. Friedel were made. It was not until after World War II that practical applications for this class of substances were created. Today, every laptop computer, not to mention virtually every digital display utilizes liquid crystals as a display." We cannot know if he intended more for later – or whether this was enough for a subject somewhat tangential to Schuh's main love, mineralogy. We are fortunate to now have excellent liquid crystal histories including *Crystals that Flow* (Sluckin, Dunmur, & Stegemeyer, 2004) containing translations and reproductions of important papers with commentary, Schuh's principle resource for his brief remarks. See also the more accessible general history (Dunmur, Sluckin, 2010).

Section 11.0, "Regional Topographies", has "short histories outlining the development of mineralogy and crystallography in the countries of the world." He means, *all* the countries. He didn't make it through the >200 or so countries and territories, but there are 110 entries including those for Tasmania, the Faroe Islands, and Macedonia (Schuh is the Alexander of crystallography historians – he aspired to conquer the world).

In the chapter on "Mineral Representations", we learn of the first book illustration of a mineral crystal, gypsum from Meydenbach in 1491 (Figure 8, Pober, 1988,) and the fact that some minerals illustrated themselves – *Naturselbstdruckes* – by the direct transfer of mineral texture to paper with ink. Figure 9 shows striations printed from a meteor section (Schreibers, 1820).

Schuh includes chapters on nomenclature, journals, collectors and dealers, instruction, and instrumentation. The latter naturally contains a detailed discussion of the development of the goniometer, from the simplest protractors to the most artfully machined, multi-circle, reflecting instruments. More interesting, however, his discussion of how the goniometer was turned "inside-out", not for the purpose of indexing crystals but rather for constructing accurate plaster or wood models of crystal polyhedra. At first, apparatuses constructed by Fuess (Figure 10) for cutting precise sections from crystals were adopted to cut crystal models. Goldschmidt (Figure 10) published the first description of a device specifically designed to prepare models. His device was refined by Stöber (Figure 10).

**Figure 8.** Left: Gypsum, Meydenbach, (1491).

26 Recent Advances in Crystallography

use of minerals as poisons.

imagine how half a lifetime was enough for Schuh.

general history (Dunmur, Sluckin, 2010).

(Schreibers, 1820).

crystallography historians – he aspired to conquer the world).

loathed Arabs, mined the emerald riches of the now lost Mount Muqattam, and made remarkably accurate measurements of specific gravity in the 11th century. He reviews the contributions and biographies of some three-dozen other Muslim mineralogists, emphasizing the curative properties of minerals purported in medieval texts as well as the

Chapter 5 covers physical crystallography. We read carefully the passages associated with Malus, Arago, Brewster, and Biot, pioneers in crystal optics whose work we have previously studied in detail (Kahr & McBride, 1991; Kahr & Claborn, 2008; Shtukenberg & Punin, 2007, Kahr & Arteaga, 2012). From these circumscribed aspects of the history of crystallography that we know best, we can declare that Schuh's understanding is accurate and deep, his comments nuanced and sophisticated. If we multiply this judgment by the thousands of episodes in the history of crystallography that he knows better than we do, it is hard to

Certain subjects receive short shrift. For instance, section **8.5 Liquid Crystals**, says precisely this and no more. "Liquid crystals were discovered and studied in the 19th century and were studied primarily by Lehmann, Schenk and Vorlander. By 1908 a theoretical framework for liquid crystals was established and other theoretical studies by E. Bose, Max Born, F. Rhimpf, O. Lehmann, and G. Friedel were made. It was not until after World War II that practical applications for this class of substances were created. Today, every laptop computer, not to mention virtually every digital display utilizes liquid crystals as a display." We cannot know if he intended more for later – or whether this was enough for a subject somewhat tangential to Schuh's main love, mineralogy. We are fortunate to now have excellent liquid crystal histories including *Crystals that Flow* (Sluckin, Dunmur, & Stegemeyer, 2004) containing translations and reproductions of important papers with commentary, Schuh's principle resource for his brief remarks. See also the more accessible

Section 11.0, "Regional Topographies", has "short histories outlining the development of mineralogy and crystallography in the countries of the world." He means, *all* the countries. He didn't make it through the >200 or so countries and territories, but there are 110 entries including those for Tasmania, the Faroe Islands, and Macedonia (Schuh is the Alexander of

In the chapter on "Mineral Representations", we learn of the first book illustration of a mineral crystal, gypsum from Meydenbach in 1491 (Figure 8, Pober, 1988,) and the fact that some minerals illustrated themselves – *Naturselbstdruckes* – by the direct transfer of mineral texture to paper with ink. Figure 9 shows striations printed from a meteor section

Schuh includes chapters on nomenclature, journals, collectors and dealers, instruction, and instrumentation. The latter naturally contains a detailed discussion of the development of the goniometer, from the simplest protractors to the most artfully machined, multi-circle,

**Figure 9.** *Naturselbstdruck*. Meteroite slice. Schreibers (1820).

Crystal drawing is surely a lost art. While it is unlikely to be recovered given crystal drawing software, Schuh allows us to appreciate it better than anyone else. Early representations of crystals from nature aimed at capturing the true symmetries, first appeared in the sixteenth century. See Bodt and Linnaeus, Figure 11a,b. Shading was used to capture three-dimensionality. It 1801, Haüy first introduced dashed lines to represent

#### 28 Recent Advances in Crystallography

hidden faces (Figure 11c). This became standard. Twinning and concavities appeared in later plates, especially those of Dana in his *System of Mineralogy* (1877) (Figure 11i).

**Figure 10.** Crystal model making devices. From left to right: Fuess, 1889; Goldschmidt, 1908; Stöber, 1914.

**Figure 11.** Crystal drawing from Schuh, 2007c. (a) Boodt, 1647; (b) Linneaus, 1768; (c) Haüy, 1801; (d) Dana, 1837; (e) Mohs, 1825; (f) Naumann, 1830; (g) Kopp, 1849; (h) Koksharov, 1853; (i) Dana, 1877; (j) Goldschmidt, 1913.

Section 15.3, "Minerals Illuminated in Colors", is the most luscious. We will indulge in a page of representations of in Figure 12 because we can in an on-line journal without consuming ink.

**Figure 12.** Color mineral illustrations from Schuh, 2007c. (a) Seba, 1734; (b) Knorr, 1754; (c). Rumphius, 1705; (d) Baumesiter, 1791; (e) Bertuch, 1798; (f) Wulfen, 1785; (g) Uibelaker, 1781; (h) Wirsing, 1775; (i) Sowerby, 1804; (j) Patrin, 1801; (k) Wilhelm, 1834; (l) Kurr, 1858; (m) Hamlin, 1873.

The *History* ends with a planned eighteenth chapter. Nothing was written but the chapter title: "18: STUDY OF CAVES". This is a foreboding final phrase. It represents all that remained unsaid by the author's premature death, and all that will remain hidden.
